Felonies drop in May; up overall so far in 2012

A significant decline in virtually all felonies in Manteca during May in year-to-year comparisons contrasted sharply with the doubling of the vehicle theft rate.

The 12 felonies of the so-called “Part One Crimes” are used by the FBI to take a realistic snapshot of crime in America.

Aggravated assault - typically gang violence - was down 38.46 percent in May going from 13 incidents in 2011 to eight this year. In June, though, aggravated assaults are expected to show an increase due to a surge in gang-related shootings.

Vehicle thefts doubled going from 16 to 32 in May-to-May stats. Crime in May saw a 17.65 percent drop in all felonies going from 204 to 168 and a decline of all burglary categories going from 123 to 66 for a 46.34 percent decrease.

Overall felony crime is up, though, 1.74 percent during the first five months of 2012 compared to January through May of 2011. Burglaries are down 11.66 percent during the same five-month comparison going from 463 to 409.

The drop in burglaries saw a 44.27 percent drop in the overall value of stolen property dropping to $1,774,533 during the first five months of this year from $3,184,191 for the same time period last year.

Felonies trending upwards from January through May of this year compared to the same five-month period in 2011 were a:

Manteca recorded reductions in the crime rate for several felonies including a:

• 18.12 percent drop in residential burglary going from 138 to 113.

• 16.22 percent fall in auto burglary going from 259 to 217.

Misdemeanors including thefts were up 20.51 percent in May to May comparisons going from 234 to 282 while the five month comparisons reflect a rise of 10.95 percent from 861 in 2011 to 911 so far this year.